Top for percolators and the like



March 10, 1931. E. P. SEG HERS TOP FOR PERCOLATORS AND THE LIKE Original Filed April 14, 1923 frz ezzfor mu W444 fly W l Patented -Mar. 10, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- EMIEL P. SEGHERS, OF CHICAGO, ILLIlS'OIS TO]? ron. PERCOLATORS Ann ran Application filed April 14, 1928, Serial No. 631,982. Renewed June 2, 1928.

This invention relates to, tops for coffee percolators or similar vessels and has for its object the provision of means wherebythe glass tops are retained in place, without danger of being loosened by heating and cooling, the retaining means being arranged to permit easy removal when desired.

A further object is to provide a percolator top which is economical to manufacture, of

improved construction, and convenient and eflicient to use.

The invention is exemplified in the com- 7 bination and arrangement of parts shown in the accompanying drawing and described in the following specification, and it ismore particularly pomted'out in the appended claims.

' In the drawing- Fig. 1 is a vertical I I l sectional view of a percolator cover showing one embodiment of the present invention a plied thereto;

Fig. 2 is an elevation o the glass top removed from the cover; A Fig. 3'is a horizontal sectionion line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevation of a sli htly modified form of glass top; and

Fig. 5 isa vertical section showing a modified form of seat for the top.

In cofi'ee percolators and perhaps other vessels, it is common to provide a small glass top or inverted bell which is fitted to the cover 'of the percolator so that the operation may be observed from the outside. The vessel is commonly made of thin sheet material, such as aluminum, and the glass top is fitted into a circular opening in the cover. When the vessel is heated the expansion acts to loosen the glass in its opening since the metal used is commonly non-resilient so that when the surrounding flange is bent outwardly by the expansion of the glass top, it fails to return upon; cooling. This loosens the top in the cover sovthat it is liable to drop out and be broken. Small projections have been provided on the glass top arranged 'to pass through passageways formed in the-rim, the top being partially rotated to bring the projections out of registration with the passagesions,

ways so that a form-of bayonet joint is provi ed for retaining the glass top in place.

The tops, however, arenot uniform in size and shape so that it frequently happens that a particular glass top is too small to be held in its seat by the bayonet joint arrangement and this is especially true after the seat has been expanded by heating and cooling. The present invention provides means for retaining the glass tops in place even though they vary considerably in size and are uneven in s a e.

I1 1 the drawing, the numeral 10 designates a cofiee percolator or other. vessel havin a cover 11 provided with a glass top 12 which is usually in the form of an inverted bell. The cover 11 is provided with a central opening havin a downwardly bent rim or flange 13 extending entirely around the opening. A rim '14 at the lower edge of the bell 12 fits within the flange 13 and a.circumferential bead 15 limits the downward movement of the top into its seat. The rim 14 is provided with a pair of projections or lugs 16 and the flange 13 is bent outwardly to form passageways 17, as shown in Fig. 3, through which the lugs 16 are moved when the top 12is, placed in its seat. After the glass top is in place it is rotated to bring the lugs 16 out 0 registration with the passageways 17 to retain the top in its seat. The lugs 16 are spaced from the bead 15 a sufiicient distance to pass entirely through the flange 13 and engage its lower edge.

As explained above, the bayonet joint 86 formed by the lugs 16 and passageways17 is not entirely adequate to p'reventr'displace ment of the top 12 under all conditions. The top may be rotated into position to bring the lugs and passages into registration so 90 that the top will fall from its seat when the cover is opened. Expansion and contraction of the parts may enlarge the seat so that pass the flange even though the lug will it is not in registration with one of the -passages 17. Toovercome these dificulties I have provided in the rim 14 a series of depressions 18 which are distributed about-the outer periphery of the rim. These-depresas shown at 19 in Fig. 3,;have ;t l 1 eir Kw inner walls inclined at their ends and the shoulders at their lower edges of the depressions may be provided with inclined notches, as shown at 20 in Figs. 1 and 2. With this form of construction the top 12 is placed in its seat as before described and rotated to bring the lugs 16 out of registration with the grooves 17. A blunt instrument, such as the end of a door key, is then used to force the lower edge of the flange 13 into the depressions 18. This will bring the edge of the flange into engagement .with the shoulders at the lower edges of the depressions 18. The depressions are deep enough so that although the glass top may subsequently become slightly loosened by expansion and contraction it will never become sulficiently loosened to permit escape of the glass top from its seat.

When the bayonet joint arrangement alone is relied upon, one of the lugs 16 may readily be moved past the flange 13 since the flange is comparatively soft and the lug has a very limited bearing point. If the flange is bent into the depressions 18 .however, each depression has an extended bearing against the lower edge of the flange and the number of depressions distributed about the periphery of the rim cooperate with one another in retaining the top in place. Moreover, the spaceddepressions prevent accidental rotation of the glass top when the flange 13 has been pressed into the depressions so that the lugs 16 cannot be accidentally returned to registration with the notches 17 If it is desired to remove the top for replacement, it is only necessary to forcibly rotate the top through a part of a revolution. When this is done the beveled ends 19 of the depressions willforce the inwardly bent portions of the rim back to their original circular formation so that the top may be readily removed when the lugs 16 are brought into registration with the passages 17. If for any reason difliculty is experienced in rotating the top, a pointed instrument may be inserted along the beveled faces 20 to raise the.

depressed portions of the flange 13 and thus free the flange from the notches 18. This may be desirable if the rim 14 is of very stiff material or if the glass top should become broken so that it is difficult to rotate in its seat. The depressions 20 may be omitted, however, as shown in Fig. 4. If this is done and it is found necessary to pry the depressed portions of the flange from the depressions, an instrument may be inserted between the rim 14 and the flange 13 at the points between the depressions 18 and moved circumferent-ially to draw the flange from the depressions.

In Figs. 1 and 3, the flange 13 is shown as integral, but it may be found desirable in some cases to slit the flange at spaced points 9.1 to form tongues 22 arranged to register with the depressions 18 in order to facilitate forcing the rim into the depressions.

I claim 1. In combination, a cover for a vessel having an open seat therein, a closure arranged to fit in said seat and having a peripherally extending recess therein, the portion of said closure forming the lower wall of said recess having its outer surface extending substantially continuously in an are about said closure, and means on said cover adapted to enter said recess to retain said closure in place.

2. In combination, a vessel having a top thereon provided with an open seat, a closure for said seat havin a rim arranged to extend into the opening thereof and provided with depressions in its outer periphery, and a flange on said cover positioned about said opening and adapted to be forced into said depressions in the periphery of said rim to retain said cover in place in its seat.

3. In combination, a percolator lid having an openin therein provided with a circumferential ange, and a glass top for said lid provided with a rim positioned in said opening and surrounded by said flange, said rim having spaced depressions in the outer periphery thereof into which portions of said flange may be forced to retain said top in place in said lid.

4. The combination with a percolator lid having an opening therethrough surrounded by an inwa-r ly bent flange, of a glass top for said lid provided with a rim portion arranged to enter said opening and with a circumferential head to limit the movement of said top in said opening, said rim portion having projections thereon for engaging the inner edge of said flange to retain said top in place when said top has certain angular positions relative to said lid'but to permit removal of said top when in a diiferent angular position, and means for holding said top from rotation in said openin 1 5. In combination, a percolator lid having an opening therein, a glass top for closing said opening, means on said lid and top constituting a bayonet joint to retain said top in position in said opening, and means for holding said top against rotation in both directions in said opening to lock said bayonet oint.

6. The combination with a percolator lid having an opening therein surrounded by an inwardly bent flange, of a glass top having a portion arranged to fit within said opening, and a projection on said top arranged to cooperate with a passageway in said flange to form a bayonet joint for retaining said top in place in said opening, said top having a depression therein into which a portion of said flange may be forced to retain said top in said lid and prevent accidental rotation thereof.

7. A percolator cover comprising a sheet metal lid having an opening therein provided with a circumferential flange, and a glass closure for said opening having a rim portion extending into said opening, said rim portion being provided with circumferentially s aced depressions in the outer face thereo into which the lower edge of said flange'may be forcedto retain said glass closure in place and prevent accidental rotation thereof.

8. In combination, a sheet metal percolator cover having an opening therein, an inwardly bent flange surrounding said opening, and a glass top for said percolatdr having a rim portion arranged within said opening and provided with a depression in the face thereof into which a portion of said flangeis force-d to retain said top in position, the lateral ends of said openinghaving inclined walls to force the inwardly bent portion of said flange out- 20. wardl y when said top is forcibly rotated.

9. In combination, a sheet metal cover for percolators or the like having an opening therein surroundedby an inwardly bent flange portion, 7 opening having a rim extending therein, said 3 rim having peripherally spaced depressions in the outer face thereof, into which portions of said flange are forced to retain said closure inplace, the lateral walls of said depressions being inclined to exert a vwedging action on the inwardly bent portions of said rim and restore said portions to their outward posi= tion when said closure is forcibly rotated thus free said closure thereof.

10. In combination, tor or the like comprising a sheet metal member having an opening therethrough and provided with a' flange of sheet metal surrounding said opening, a closure for said to permit removal 4 'opening having a rim extending therein, and

a depression in the outer face of said rim into which said flange may be forced to retain said closure in place in said cover, said depressioneliaving an inclined wall portion to permit he insertion of an instrument for forcing the inwardly bent flange from said depression.

115 In combination, asheetmetal percolator.

cover having an opening therein surrounded by an inwardly bent flange, and a glass top having a '.rim portion extending into said opening and having peripherally spaced depressions in the outer face of said rim, the

ateral. walls of said depressions being inclined and the lower walls of said depressions 1 havin inclined portions topermit the insertion 0 an instrument intosald depressions.

12. In combination, a percolator top having an opening therethrough, a sheet metal 60 flange surrounding said opening, a glass cover havlng a rim portion. extending into said opening, a bead on said cover'for limiting the movement of said rim into said opening, and a projection onjsaid rim spaced from said bead adistance' substantially equal to to receive a-holding member on said cover.

and a glassclosure for said lindrical surface.

a cover f p l to retain said top 1n position on a percolator,

I opening the width of said flange and arrangedto cooperate with a passageway in said flange to constitute a bayonet joint for retaining said glass cover in position in said opening, saidr rimh'aving spaced depressions in the outer face thereof for receiving inwardly bent portions of said flange, the lateral walls of said depressions being inclined to force said bent portions outwardly when said closure is rotated, the lower walls of said depressions having inclined portions to permit the insertion of an instrument for forcing the inwardly bent portions of said flange from said depressions. j

13. A top for percolators having a sub; stantially cylindrical portion arranged to fit in a percolator cover, said portion havin a recess formed therein and extending wit 'n the outer cylindrical surface of said portion 14. A glass top for percolators comprising a bell-shaped member having a substantially I cylindrical rim arranged to enter an opening in a percolator cover, said rim having a peripherally' extending recess in the outer face thereof extending within the outer cylindrical surface of said rim, said recess having a portion of the wall thereof inclined outwardly at an oblique angle to said outer cyg 15. A glass top for percolators com rising a bell-shaped member having a recess fbrmed in the .outer face thereof adjacent the edge of said bell for receiving a holding member said recess'having a portion of the wall there-' of inclined outwardly at an oblique angle to facilitate disengagement of said holding member on rotation of said top relatively to the holding mem'ber.

16. A-glass top for percolators comprising a bell-shaped member having a series of recesses formedin the outer face thereof adja cent the rim of said bell, said recesseshaving the lateral walls thereof inclined at an angle to the outer face of said bell.

17 In combination, a sheet metal lid for vessels having an opening'therethrough, a top for closing said opening and provided with a flange projecting through said opening, and ton ues. formed on said lid adjacent the erip liery'of said opening for engaging the ange on said top. .18. The combination with a cover for a vessel having an opening therethrough, ofa top for closing sa1d opening provided with a flange projecting through said opening, and aflange on' said cover surrounding said and projecting transversely of the plane t ereof, said last-namedflange having. slits therein to separate said flange .into tongues for engaging the flange on said top.

19. The combination with a cover fora vessel having an opening therethrough; of atop for closing said openmg' having a flange projecting through said openin said cover having a flange thereon surroun ng said opening at the edge thereof, the flange on said cover being slitted to separate it into tongues for engaging the flange on said top, the flange on said top havin a depression extending within the contour 0% the outer surface thereof for receiving one of said tongues.

20. The combination with a cover for a vessel having an opening therethrough, of a top for said opening having a flange thereon extending through said opening, said flange having a depression in the outer surface thereof extending within the contour of said surface, and holding means attached to said cover for engaging said depression to retain said top in place in said opening.

21. In combination, a percolator lid having an opening therein, a glass top for closing said opening, means on said lid and top 'constituting a bayonet joint to interlock said top with said cover, andco-operating means on said top and lid entirely independent of said bayonet joint for resisting rotation of said top in said opening.

22. In combination, a percolator lid having an opening therein, a glass top for closing said opening, means on said lidand top constituting a bayonet joint to interlock said top wit said cover, and means on said top other than the part constituting the bayonet joint for co-operating with the part on the lid constituting the bayonet 'oint for resistin rotation of said top, sai last-mentione means on said top being constrained to move therewith at all times.

23. In combination, a percolator lid having an opening therein, means associated with said opening to form one part of a bayonet joint, a glass top for closing said opening, means on said top to form another part of a bayonet joint and adapted to 00-0 erate with the bayonet joint part on said li for interlocking thetop with said cover, and means on .the top other than the ineans constituting a part of the bayonet joint for co-operating with the means on the lid constituting the bayonet joint for resisting rotation of said top, said last-mentioned means on said top beingconstrained tomove therewith at all times.

24. In combination, a percolator lid having an openingtherein, a glass top for closing said opening, means on said lid and top constituting a bayonet, joint for interlocking said top in the opening in said lid with freedom of rotation, and means entirely indepen ent of said bayonet joint for resisting rotation of said top in said opening.

25. Incombination, a percolator lid having an opening therein, a glass top for closing said opening, means on said lid and top for interlocking the top in said opening, and means entirely independent of said interlockmg means for resisting rotation of said top.

'ing a continuous means, said means also preventing relative rotation between said members.

27. In a percolator cover, the combination of a lid having an o ening therein and havange surrounding said opening, a top having a depending flange and having a depression therein into which a portion of said first mentioned flange is forced to prevent removal of said top from said lid.

28. In a percolator cover, the combination of a lid having an opening therein surrounded b a depending continuous flange, and a top aving a flange adapted to be arranged within said first flange and having a plurality of circumferential depressions therein into which portions of said first mentioned flange are forced to prevent removal of said top from said lid.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification on this 10th day of April, A. D. 1923. EMIEL P. SEGHEBS. 

